Container closure

ABSTRACT

A device for sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall. The opening has two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall. The device includes a plate having a first end adapted to be positioned generally over the first end of the opening and a second end adapted to be positioned generally over the second end of the opening. A pad of resilient material is attached to one surface of the plate and is adapted to sealingly close the opening in the end wall of the container. A hook-shaped lever arm swings out from a first end positioned below the pad of resilient material and then upwardly to a second end at a position spaced from the plate and below the plane of the plate. Means are provided for attaching the first end of the lever arm to the plate towards the second end thereof so that the lever arm may be slid through the opening and under the second end of the opening. The second end of the lever arm would then be positioned below and bearing against the end wall so as to compress the pad into a sealing position when the plane of the plate is parallel to the plane of the end wall. Means are provided for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate into sealing position on the end wall of the container to complete the seal.

United States Patent 1191 Wharton 1 51 Nov. 26, 1974 CONTAINER CLOSURE [76] Inventor: Franklin Eugene Wharton, 1308 Sartori Ave,, Torrance, Calif. 90501 221 Filed: July 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 381,480

Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Steven M. Pollard Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam F. McDonald [57] ABSTRACT A device for sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall. The opening has two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall. The device includes a plate having a first end adapted to be positioned generally over the first end of the opening and a second end adapted to be positioned generally over the second end of the opening. A pad of resilient material is attached to one surface of the plate and is adapted to sealingly close the opening in the end wall of the container. A hook-shaped lever arm swings out from a first end positioned below the pad of resilient material and then upwardly to a second end at a position spaced from the plate and below the plane of the plate. Means are provided for attaching the first end of the lever arm to the plate towards the second end thereof so that the lever arm may be slid through the opening and under the second end of the opening. The second end of the lever arm would then be positioned below and bearing against the end wall so as to compress the pad into a sealing position when the plane of the plate is parallel to the plane of the end wall. Means are provided for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate into sealing position on the end wall of the container to complete the seal.

8 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEL NOV 2 81974 sum 2 or 2 CONTAINER CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to closures for containers. It' is particularly applicable to sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall wherein the opening has two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall. An example of such a container is the typical metal can such as a tin can or an aluminum can.

Containers such as metal cans are widely used today for the containment of solids and liquids such as beverages. The containers are designed to protect their contents from contamination by the atmosphere. Further, with particular reference to liquids are frequently carbonated or in some other manner contain gases under pressure. If the container is left open to the atmosphere for any length of time, the gases in the liquid will escape and the liquid will become what is known as flat. All of these problems are well known. Accordingly, there have been many attempts to provide various devices for sealing the openings made in such containers. The degree of success of the closure has varied depending on the type of closure and the type of opening which it is adapted to close.

In the 19305, devices were developed for puncturing an opening ofa roughly triangular shape in the end wall of a container. This was followed in the late 1950s and early l960s by the development of the so-called tab top end wall of a can wherein a tab could be pulled to tear away part of the end wall making an opening. These openings vary in size and shape depending upon the type of puncturing device used and the type of tear tab that a particular can manufacturer uses. However, all have what can be defined as two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall of the container.

Many prior art closures, particularly of the plug type have been quite elaborate. The elaborateness or complexity ofthe closure was necessary to assure a satisfactory seal. Unfortunately, it frequently made the closure awkward to use and difficult to remove. Accordingly, in recent years, a reel need has developed for a closure device which could seal the opening in the end wall of a container and be simple, yet effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an advantage of the instant invention that it provides a closure for sealing and opening in the end wall of a container which will effectively perform this function and provide a substantially pressure-tight seal. The device is simple to manufacture and use, and contains few moving parts to present problems. As such, it will be highly durable and easy to clean for reuse. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the device, although very pressure tight, is easily applied to the container and easily removed therefrom.

The present invention provides a device or closure for sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall. The opening has two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture ofthe end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall. The device includes a plate having a first end adapted to be positioned generally over the first end of the opening and a second end adapted to be positioned generally over the second end of the opening. A pad of resilient material is attached to one surface of the plate and adapted to sealingly close the opening in the end wall of the container. A hook-shaped lever arm swings out from a first end positioned below the pad of resilient material and then upwardly to a second end at a position spaced from the plate and below the plane of the plate. Means are provided for attaching the first end of the lever arm to the plate towards the second end thereof so that the lever arm may be slid through the opening and under the second end of the opening. The second end of the lever arm is positioned below and bearing against the end wall so as to compress the pad into sealing position when the plane of the plate is parallel to to the plane of the end wall. Means are provided for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate into sealing position on the end wall of the container to complete the seal.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are illustrative of advantageous embodiments of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a closure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing it as it is being applied to a container to seal an opening therein;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing it in a further position it is being applied to the container to seal the opening therein;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in sealing position on a container;

FIG. 5 is a prospective view of a closure according to the present invention showing its relationship to the opening in a container which it is to seal;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section, showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, in section, showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view, along line 8-8 in FIG. 6 in section, and with parts removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10 through 13 are illustrative of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals have been used for corresponding parts.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a closure device in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The device includes a plate 12 of suitable material such as plastic or metal which may have an overhanging lip 14 as shown. The plate may be described as having a first end 16 and a second end 18. A pad 20 of resilient material such as rubber or neoprene is attached to one surface (22 in FIG. 2) of plate 12. A hook-shaped lever arm 24 swings out from a first end 26 positioned below pad 20 and then upwardly to a second end 28 at a position spaced from plate 12 and below the plane of plate 12. Means 30 shown in FIG. 2 as an extension of lever arm 24, attach first end 26 of lever arm 24 to plate 12 towards or near second end 18 thereof.

A shaft 32 extends outwardly from a position below plate 12. Suitable means 34, shown in FIG. 2 as an extension of shaft 32 are provided for attaching shaft 32 to plate 12. In this embodiment, a groove 36 is formed in the surface of shaft 32.

Referring now to FIG. 2, closure l is seen as it is being applied to an opening 38 in a container indicated generally at 40. Container 40, as shown, has an end wall 42 and a side wall 44. Opening 38 is in end wall 42, and has two ends, a first end 46 adjacent the juncture, shown as a rolled rim 48, of end wall 42 and side wall 44, and a second end 50 spaced inwardly from juncture 48. In this particular container, a downwardly extending ridge 52 is formed in end wall 40 between the first end 46 of opening 38 and juncture 48. Lever arm 24 has been slid through opening 38 and under second end 50 thereof to a position below end wall 42. Closure has correspondingly been slid over end wall 42 to a position such that shaft 32 may drop through opening 38.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a further step in the application of the device to the opening may be seen. In this figure, closure 10 has now been swung downwardly to a position where the plane of plate 12 is substantially parallel to the plane of end wall 42. Second end 28 of lever arm 24 is positioned below and bearing against end wall 42 with sufficient pressure to actually raise it somewhat. As a result, pad is compressed slightly. Shaft 32 is now positioned within opening 38 and below the plane of end wall 42. As closure 10 is slid under pressure, for example, finger pressure, toward side wall 44 (to the right in FIG. 3) shaft 32 will extend beneath that portion of end wall 42 between the first end 46 of opening 38 and juncture 48. In the embodiment shown, closure 10 will slide sufficiently to the right so that groove 36 will be directly below ridge 52.

Referring now to FIG. 4, closure 10 may be seen in sealing position. The pressure upon plate 12 has been released and plate 12 is positioned substantially parallel to the plate of end wall 42. Second end 28 of lever arm 24 is positioned below and bearing against end wall 42 compressing pad 20 into sealing position. Shaft 52 longitudinally bears against the undersurface of end wall 42 between the first end 46 of opening 38 and juncture 48 so as to compress pad 20 below the first end of plate 12 into sealing position. As a result, pad 20 is uniformly compressed all around opening 38, sealing it. It will be noted that in this position ridge 52 rests in groove 36 which also increases the sealing action and the stability of the closure in the opening.

A closure of this general type has been tested and has effectively withstood a pressure equivalent to 30 pounds per square inch while maintaining its seal on the opening. While pad 20 may be attached by any appropriate means to plate 12, it will be appreciated that adhesive will work quite well. Lip 14 will help maintain pad 20 in proper position on plate 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates the general relationship of closures according to the instant invention to openings in the containers. The relationship of lever arm 24 to the body of closure 10, specifically plate 12, is believed quite clearly shown in this figure.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternate means for compressing pad 20 below the first end of plate 12 into sealing position may be seen. This embodiment of the invention is particularly applicable to the situation wherein juncture 48 is in the form of a rim as shown. In this embodiment, a clip 54 is attached to plate 12, e.g., by being slideably mounted on plate 12 as shown. It should be readily apparent that when plate 54 is pushed into engagement with rim 48, it will hold pad 20 in compressed position below first end 16 of plate 12 and in sealing position on end wall 42 of container 40.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 6. However, in this embodiment, clip 54 is permanently attached to plate 12 and simply snaps over rim 48. As shown in this embodiment, and equally applicable to that of FIG. 6, a tab 56 may be provided on clip 54 to facilitate engaging it with and releasing it from rim 48 of container 40.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the slideable mounting of clip 54 on plate 12, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, may be more clearly understood. As shown therein, a slide mounting is accomplished by means of tongues 58 provided on clip extension 60 which are positioned in grooves 62 provided in plate 12.

Referring now to FIG. 9, another embodiment of the present invention may be seen. This embodiment is similar to that of FIGS. 1 through 4. However, as may be seen, lever arm 24 and shaft 32 are formed of one piece of material, e.g., metal. A collar 64 is attached to plate 12 and is the means for attaching both shaft 32 and lever arm 24 to plate 12. As shown, collar 64 extends downwardly from plate 12 to a position below pad 20 and at least part of shaft 32 is mounted therein.

FIGS. 10 through 13 illustrate another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment is somewhat similar to that of FIG. 9. However, here shaft 32 is slideably mounted in collar 64. Lever arm 24 is not mounted in collar 64, but is attached to plate 12 in the same manner as shown in the other embodiments. A sleeve opening 66 is provided in lever arm 24 in axial alignment with the opening in collar 64 in which shaft 32 is slideably mounted. Extension of shaft 32, shown of a smaller diameter, slides in sleeve 66. The sliding of shaft 32 is limited by a detent 68 provided on the surface thereof.

As shown, when closure 10 is first inserted in the opening 38 in the end wall 42 of container 40, both container 40 and the closure 10 are tilted from the horizontal to a position such that shaft 32 has slid to its innermost position, i.e., to the left as shown in the figure. When lever arm 24 and shaft 32 are completely with opening 38, container 40 and closure 10 are then tilted in the opposite direction causing shaft 32 to slide outwardly to a position beneath the undersurface of end wall 42. Shaft 32, being formed in this embodiment of a relatively heavy material such as stainless steel, slides readily until detent 68 bears against collar 64.

During both of these operations, pressure has been applied through the medium of a finger or the like to plate 12 to compress pad 20 to permit this movement. The pressure on plate 12 is now released causing pad 20 to expand and shaft 32 to longitudinally bear against the undersurface of end wall 42. This maintains some compression of pad 20, prevents sliding of shaft 32, and places closure in sealing position. Container 40 with closure 10 thereon may now be tilted in any direction without breaking the seal. When it is desired to release the seal, in this embodiment, as in all of the other embodiments, the sealing operation is simply reversed.

The devices of the present invention are simple, yet effective closures for the openings in the end walls of containers. They have relatively few parts, are quite durable, and are easy to clean and maintain. They are easily applied and removed. This is quite important since they are quite apt to be utilized on containers containing materials intended for human consumption. The devices have been tested and found to be very pressure tight.

It should be appreciated that while there have been shown and described hereinabove possible embodiments of this invention, the invention is not limited thereto, and various changes, alterations, and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the claims, wherein what is claimed is:

l. A device for sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall,

the opening having two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, which device comprises:

a. a plate having a first end adapted to be positioned generally over the first end of the opening and a second end adapted to be positioned generally over the second end of the opening;

b. a pad of resilient material attached to one surface of the plate and adapted to sealingly close the opening in the end wall of the container;

0. a hook-shaped lever arm swinging out from a first end positioned below the pad of resilient material and then upwardly to a second end at a position spaced from the plate and below the plane of the plate;

d. means attaching the first end of the lever arm to the plate towards the second end thereof so that the lever arm may be slid through the opening, the second end of the lever arm being positioned below and bearing against the end wall so as to compress the pad into sealing position when the plane of the plate is parallel to the plane of the end wall;

e. means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate into sealing position on the end wall of the container to complete the seal.

2. The device of claim 1 when a rim is formed at the juncture of the end wall and side wall of the container wherein the means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate comprises a clip attached to the plate adapted to engage the rim in a position which compresses the pad.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the clip is slideably mounted on the plate.

4. The device of claim 2 including a tab on the clip for engaging it with and releasing it from the rim of the container.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate comprises a shaft extending outwardly from a position below the plate and adapted to longitudinally bear against the undersurface of the end wall of the container between the first end of the opening and the juncture of the end wall and side wall when the device is in sealing position on the end wall of the container, and means attaching the shaft to the plate.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the means attaching the shaft to the plate is a collar extending downwardly from the plate to a position below the pad and within which at least part of the shaft is mounted.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the shaft is slideably mounted in the collar.

8. The device of claim 5 when a downwardly extending ridge is formed in the end wall of the container between the first end of the opening and the juncture of the end wall and side wall, wherein the shaft has a groove formed in the surface thereof to receive the ridge when the device is in sealing position on the end wall of the container.

* l l l 

1. A device for sealing an opening in the end wall of a container having at least one end wall and a side wall, the opening having two ends, a first end adjacent the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, and a second end spaced inwardly from the juncture of the end wall and the side wall, which device comprises: a. a plate having a first end adapted to be positioned generally over the first end of the opening and a second end adapted to be positioned generally over the second end of the opening; b. a pad of resilient material attached to one surface of the plate and adapted to sealingly close the opening in the end wall of the container; c. a hook-shaped lever arm swinging out from a first end positioned below the pad of resilient material and then upwardly to a second end at a position spaced from the plate and below the plane of the plate; d. means attaching the first end of the lever arm to the plate towards the second end thereof so that the lever arm may be slid through the opening, the second end of the lever arm being positioned below and bearing against the end wall so as to compress the pad into sealing position when the plane of the plate is parallel to the plane of the end wall; e. means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate into sealing position on the end wall of the container to complete the seal.
 2. The device of claim 1 when a rim is formed at the juncture of the end wall and side wall of the container wherein the means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate comprises a clip attached to the plate adapted to engage the rim in a position which compresses the pad.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the clip is slideably mounted on the plate.
 4. The device of claim 2 including a tab on the clip for engaging it with and releasing it from the rim of the container.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for compressing the pad below the first end of the plate comprises a shaft extending outwardly from a position below the plate and adapted to longitudinally bear against the undersurface of the end wall of the container between the first end of the opening and the juncture of the end wall and side wall when the device is in sealing position on the end wall of the container, and means attaching the shaft to the plate.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the means attaching the shaft to the plate is a collar extending downwardly from the plate to a position below the pad and within which at least part of the shaft is mounted.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the shaft is slideably mounted in the collar.
 8. The device of claim 5 when a downwardly extending ridge is formed in the end wall of the container between the first end of the opening and the juncture of the end wall and side wall, wherein the shaft has a groove formed in the surface thereof to receive the ridge when the device is in sealing position on the end wall of the container. 